A Vikings And A Bears Fan Do An NFC North Review

By
PerSources Contributor
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State of NFC North

A Vikings and a Bears fan came together to compare how they felt about the NFC North prior the season and if opinions were confirmed or changed after Week 1’s action. In other words, an NFC North Review. 

This is also a friendly reminder that both of us are working off just one week of NFL games and our football knowledge. No more, no less. 

What was your opinion of each team heading into the season? 

Bears

Eli: Ryan Pace was given an extension, and essentially, the keys to the organization. After three extremely disappointing seasons, the Bears fired John Fox and brought in Andy-Reid-product Matt Nagy. After drafting Mitchell Trubisky with the second pick in 2017, it was clear Pace had to invest in his investment, and Nagy was only a fraction of the changes the Bears GM would make.  

In an offense last year that featured pass catchers that wouldn’t even make other teams practice squads, Pace needed to find playmakers. He went out and got WRs Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel as well as TE Trey Burton in free agency and drafted WR Anthony Miller. After surrounding Trubisky with trustworthy weapons and offensive minds, oh, and trading for some guy named Khalil Mack, I predicted the Bears would end up third in the North with an 8-8 record.

Mason: The Bears showed their commitment to Mitchell Trubisky in last year’s draft by trading the third overall selection, 2017 third and fourth-round picks, and a 2018 third-round pick. At the time, the move wasn’t critiqued because of Trubisky’s talent level, but rather that the team that was originally going to pick in the second slot wasn’t going to go QB – and they didn’t; selecting Solomon Thomas from Stanford. Shanahan unofficially confirmed they were going to go with Thomas that night. Fast forward a year later to this offseason, and the team has a much clearer direction.

The Bears parted way with head coach John Fox in favor of former Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. The front office took somewhat risky but worthwhile gambles on Allen Robinson (coming off a torn ACL) and Trey Burton (a talented but career-backup tight end), while also making some underrated signings in Taylor Gabriel and Aaron Lynch. They were also able to retain veteran CB Prince Amukamara and rising star CB Kyle Fuller. This may seem like a list of what the Bears did this offseason, but to me it screamed one thing: a competent front office.

With all due respect to all former Bears GMs that came before Ryan Pace, Pace has sped up the Bears’ rebuild. On paper, the offense had a much better supporting cast around Trubisky that weren’t named Jordan Howard or Tarik Cohen, and the defense figured to hover around their top-10 mark from last season. Then, the Khalil Mack trade happened.

Khalil Mack is one of the best pass-rushers the league has to offer, and he was going to join a corps of Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan, Leonard Floyd, Eddie Goldman, and Akiem Hicks? Da Bears might just be back….

Packers

Eli: While the Vikings may have the best all-around team, there isn’t much debate as to which team in the division has the best player at the position that matters most. As a Bears fan, Aaron Rodgers has been the thorn in my side ever since he got the starting nod when Favre took his talents to Minnesota. However, I’d be lying if I said I don’t enjoy watching him pick apart defenses. The biggest weakness coming into the season was seemingly their starting CBs, which was addressed in the draft after taking Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson with their top two picks. Green Bay also hired Mike Pettine as their DC, who coached top ten defenses with the Jets and Bills previously. I predicted the Packers to be second in the NFC North with a Wildcard birth in January.

Mason: The Packers had the most up-and-down offseason of teams in the NFC North.

They kicked things off by trading incumbent starting cornerback Damarious Randall to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the Deshone Kizer. The Packers had the most talented quarterback in the league already, but trading for a second-year player coming off a season where he threw twice as many interceptions as touchdowns didn’t seem like the best backup plan.

Then, more puzzlingly, the Packers cut their franchise quarterback’s best friend and favorite target, Jordy Nelson. New GM Brian Gutekunst tried to offset the loss by signing Jimmy Graham to a three-year deal but also spent roughly $2 million less than the Oakland Raiders spent on Jordy on a cornerback (Tramon Williams) the previous regime let go.

The Packers did add talented defensive linemen Muhammad Wilkerson and nabbed a pair of young cornerbacks in the draft (Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson), but besides that, Green Bay was set to roll with the same roster they’ve had the past few seasons.

As long as the Packers have Rodgers, they’re Super Bowl contenders, as much as it may pain me to say.

Lions

Eli: The Lions have always been an interesting team to try and analyze in the NFC North. They seemingly have a QB who can make all the throws with solid weapons around him and a not-so-terrible-defense. They just can’t put it all together. GM Bob Quinn knew this to be the case, so he decided to hire Bill Belichick’s pupil and ex-Patriot DC, Matt Patricia.

Hiring Patricia and keeping Jim Bob Cooter as OC, I think, was key for the Lions. It would not only establish a different vibe in the locker room but also keep continuity with the system Stafford was playing under. Quinn also went and got LeGarrette Blount in free agency and drafted Kerryon Johnson to help the 32nd ranked rushing attack in the league last year. Even with these additions, I still felt the Lions had the worst overall team in the division, and predicted they’d be the fourth place team at season’s end.

Mason: The Lions had the quietest offseason of all the NFC North teams.

Detroit decided to part ways with Jim Caldwell after two consecutive 9-7 seasons, replacing him with longtime Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. The move received some applause around the league, but it was more of a golf clap than a deafening roar.

The Lions let go of failed first-round draft pick Eric Ebron, replacing him with pass-blocking tight end Levine Toilolo. They also added some depth along the defense in Sylvester Williams, DeShawn Shead, and Devon Kennard, while shoring up their lines on both sides of the ball with their first-round selection of Frank Ragnow and fourth-round selection of Dashawn Hand. It was their second-round selection that probably was the most notable.

Kerryon Johnson was selected by Bob Quinn in the second-round, set to hopefully bolster the anemic running retreat attack. Detroit’s front office also signed journeyman veteran back LeGarrette Blount, hoping his career 4.4 yards an attempt would hold true.

The Lions didn’t need to have a big offseason, but they also didn’t keep pace with their division rivals.

Vikings

Eli: The reigning NFC North Champs, there’s no question who the best all-around team in the north was at the start of this season. Heading into his fifth year as head coach, Mike Zimmer (with some credit going to GM Rick Spielman) has built himself the defense everyone knew he would when he announced he’d make the jump from DC to HC.

In 2017, his defense ranked top-three in both defending the pass and run. The team ended up with a 13-3 record and reached the NFC title game, all with journeyman QB Case Keenum who was the supposed back-up.

With Keenum expected to get paid for his overachieving year, Spielman had his eyes set on paying another QB coming from Washington. Vikings backed up the Brinks truck for Kirk Cousins, giving him a three-year, $84 million deal after Cousins had three straight 4,000-yard passing seasons. The Vikings have themselves an established QB, and couple that with the return of Dalvin Cook and hire of highly respected OC John DeFilippo, I fully expect the Vikes to have a similar year to last. They may just represent the NFC in February.

Mason: The Vikings had the “loudest” offseason of the NFC North teams.

Rick Spielman handed out the NFL’s first fully-guaranteed contract to quarterback Kirk Cousins while letting nearly ever quarterback that was on Minnesota’s roster last season walk in the offseason.

Spielman also went out and signed defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, and Mike Zimmer selected another cornerback, Mike Hughes from the University of Central Florida. Zimmer, (I mean Spielman) also reunited with an old friend, safety George Iloka, after he was released by the Bengals.

The Vikings also re-signed impending free agents Stefon Diggs and Danielle (pronounced duh-NEEL) Hunter.

Minnesota saw veteran mainstays Brian Robison and Terence Newman retire; but Newman would quickly join the defensive staff, a welcome addition by the players and fans alike.

The Vikings looked to be betting on a mixture of continuity, veteran presences, and that Kirk Cousins could take the offense to the next level.

After Week One

Bears

Eli: (Just read the “after” in the Packers section to know why I’m tearing up writing this) There may not have been a more hyped-up Bears season since they traded for Jay Cutler in 2009, and the reason for optimism was warranted.

A young QB that’s shown glimpses of promise, brand new weapons, and a top-10 defense that added Roquan Smith and Khalil Mack, Bears fans were looking forward to their first test of the season going up against their division rival.

After a strong first-half performance, especially by newcomer Khalil Mack, the Bears had Packers fans shocked going into the half up 20-0 and AR12 potentially hurt. The offense struggled to move the ball in the second half, only amounting three points, and Aaron Rodgers took advantage of a tired defense and lit it up. Packers win, 24-23.

It was unclear just how rusty Matt Nagy’s offense would be, as they sat most of the preseason. Trubisky looked confused and uncomfortable when dropping back in the fourth quarter, as if he didn’t know where to go with the ball. I knew this offense would take time to mesh, and that’s the only hope we have going into Week 2. I believe it will eventually happen. I’m sticking with my prediction of 8-8.

Mason: …. until they weren’t.

Aaron Rodgers went down with what looked to be a potential season-ending injury and would be taken on a cart back to Green Bay’s locker room. Deshone Kizer came in to fill in to try to get the momentum back on the Packers’ side. Then, Khalil Mack happened:

And again.

And then Aaron Rodgers broke out his doubled game check.

The Bears got out to an early 10-0 lead and were up 20-0 at one point, but unless they can prove they can maintain a lead, it’s going to be a long season for the Chicago faithful.

Packers:

Eli: Well, this is awkward. The Packers and Bears faced off in an epic (for non-Bears fans) Sunday Night Football matchup that featured a gutsy performance by Green Bay’s eventual Hall of Fame QB.

The storyline going in was how the Packers were planning on blocking newly-acquired Bears OLB Khalil Mack. We quickly learned the answer to that question; they couldn’t. So much so that Aaron Rodgers got injured on a play that Mack applied pressure and forced Rodgers to go back to the locker room on a cart.

Chicago was up 20-0 at halftime. Aaron Rodgers returned, and the rest is history. He went on to throw for 286 yards (mostly in the second half) and three TDs. He’s the reason why the Packers win games, and he’s the reason why they’ll be in the playoffs as a wildcard team.

Mason: Aaron Rodgers is one of the greatest quarterbacks I’ll ever see in my lifetime.

Things could be left at that, but credit must be given where it’s due.

Down 20-0 at the half and going out on the field not really able to put down weight on his left leg, Rodgers led the Packers offense to score 24 points in the second half. The definition of a comeback win.

While it’s still outrageous how much money he got paid (and any professional athlete really), he more than proved Sunday night why he’s not just the highest paid quarterback but highest paid player in the league.

Lions

Eli: And again, not much has changed. The Lions opened up the season at home against a young and rebuilding Jets team. With a full training camp and preseason to prep for the opener, the Lions came off the bus looking like they didn’t know they were playing a game that day.

Granted, the game started off with Sam Darnold throwing a pick-six, but that was the beginning and end of any momentum the Lions would carry. The Jets defense doesn’t have a lot of household names on it, but they came with loads of energy, pressuring Stafford into throwing four INTs. That last-in-the-league rushing attack we mentioned early that Quinn wanted to address? They piled up all of 39 total rushing yards. In a performance that rivals the Bills for the worst Week 1 outing, Detroit fans are seemingly in for a long season if Matt Patricia doesn’t get his team to bounce back.

Mason: Detroit came into Monday night’s contest against the New York Jets feeling confident. The Jets would be starting the youngest rookie quarterback in NFL history and a roster that experienced a lot of overturn. The Lions retained a lot of their key contributors from last season. Darnold was an unknown. Then, he became known.

The Lions would start things off intercepting Darnold’s first career pass attempt for a touchdown. Then Matthew Stafford decided to return the favor over, and over, and over, and over again.

In his 126th career game, Stafford would finish the night with 286 yards, a touchdown, and four interceptions.

In his first career game, Sam Darnold would finish the night with 198 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

Note: This is not to say I think Sam Darnold is a better quarterback than Matthew Stafford because of one game. I do think Sam Darnold will have the better career, but that’s another conversation for another day. 

The Lions weren’t getting it done through the air, so they tried to get it going on the ground. The results weren’t good.

To go 69 games without a 100-yard rusher is one thing. To have the last 100-yard rusher be Reggie Bush on Thanksgiving? Well, that’s another.

Vikings

Eli: Nothing new here in Minnesota. The defense dominated Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers, forcing him to throw three INTs and end with a QBR of 45.1. Andrew Sendejo and Harrison Smith caused all kinds of havoc, delivering hit after hit. And as noted above, the effects of having an established QB in Kirk Cousins and respected play-caller in John Defilippo certainly showed.

Cousins didn’t have “wow” numbers, but he looked sharp, especially on a go-route he put right on the money to Pro-Bowl wideout Stefon Diggs towards the sideline of the endzone. The future is undoubtedly bright in Minnesota, and the Super Bowl is definitely within reach with this squad.

Mason: It wasn’t a perfect debut, but Kirk Cousins gave plenty of reasons why he was signed to the monster contract he received, especially on this touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs:

Cousins would finish the day 20-of-36 for 244 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with Adam Thielen six times for 102 yards while also helping ease Dalvin Cook back into action. Cook finished as Minnesota’s second leading receiver. It was a solid first act on offense, but the defense stole the show.

Minnesota’s defense would finish the game with three sacks and three interceptions, including the game-clinching INT from the best safety in the league, Harrison Smith.

What? You knew the bias was coming in at some point.

Overall, a solid debut for the team as a whole, and they’re 1-0 heading into a matchup with division rival Green Bay.

Who do you agree with more? If you disagree with our takes, tell us! See you in the comments.

@Eli_PerSources

@_Mason_Jar

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